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6.6 Recommendations for the inclusion of landslide hazardissues in the planning process.The previous chapters have highlighted the fact that landslides do occur in Ireland although infrequently andthat the most frequent occurrences appear to be in coastal, upland and peat bog areas. This infrequency ofoccurrence may change, as also referred to in previous chapters, with the impact of climate change and theincreased pressure for development in hitherto undeveloped upland and peat bog areas. It is therefore opportuneto review current practice to ensure that, where relevant, the issue of instability is addressed at all stages of theplanning process.To be able to identify, with a degree of certainty, areas which are subject to landslides or have the potential forlandslides will require up to date information to be compiled and be readily accessible on landslide susceptibilitymaps and hazard risk assessment. The use of this information in the planning process should contribute tomaximising the opportunities for sustainable development while minimising increases in landslide hazard riskand consequential economic loss and human suffering.6.6.1 Recommendations for future actionAccordingly the Irish Landslides Working Group has proposed recommendations for future action in the contextof land use planning and landslides. These recommendations are not meant to be definitive but to provide aplatform for discussion and policy making, in consultation with all stakeholders including local authorities.These recommendations suggest two phases of action for the integration of landslide hazard issues into theplanning process, one following on from the other.Phase 1 – Research• Research work to be carried out into the area of landslide susceptibility mapping and hazard risk assessmentto identify areas which are subject to landslides or have the potential for landslides. This analysis of landslidehazard risk should give a clear picture of the extent of the problem in Ireland and would be helpful inconsidering if and to what extent national guidance on the issue of development on unstable land is required.• It may be appropriate to consider the preparation of national guidance under Section 28 of the Planning andDevelopment Act 2000 (para 6.2.1), on landslides as part of the wider issue of natural hazards in general tocomplement work already in progress on flood risk.• Appropriate funding for such research would need to be put in place.• Pending the outcome of this research it would be important that, where appropriate, future MinisterialGuidelines include the topic of known landslide hazard or the potential for such hazard as an issue to beaddressed.Phase 2 – National GuidanceIf Phase 1 indicates the need for national guidance under Section 28 on the issue of landslide risk and theplanning process, such guidance could:-• Call up any available landslide database of past landslide events which is reliable and readily accessible.• Recommend consideration of the causes and extent of the landslide problem, and the feasibility of identifyingon the relevant development plan maps areas inherently unstable (or areas of potential instability) and theformulation of a landslide risk assessment methodology to facilitate land use planning in such areas.• Include guidance to planning authorities, landowners and developers in these areas on how to ensure thatthe type of development proposed is suitable for the ground conditions and that the physical constraints onthe land are taken into consideration at all stages of planning process.• Recommend applicants/developers to examine the scope for remedial, preventative or precautionarymeasures including slope stabilisation measures on unstable or potentially unstable ground to avoid sterilisingland unnecessarily and a requirement for landslide hazard assessment to be included for planning applicationsfor development in the risk areas identified.70